U.S. patent number 4,848,023 [Application Number 07/152,165] was granted by the patent office on 1989-07-18 for fishing lure.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ryder International Corporation. Invention is credited to Joseph V. Ranalletta, Francis E. Ryder.
United States Patent |
4,848,023 |
Ryder , et al. |
July 18, 1989 |
Fishing lure
Abstract
A fishing lure for use with dead bait fish includes a cover
having a cavity for insertion of the head portion of the bait fish
and an anchor means for securing the cover on the bait fish. Also
connected to the cover is a foil or diving plane which deflects
water to create lateral motion of the lure and bait fish in
relation to the direction of the trolling advancement of the lure
through the water, so that the lure produces simulated swimming
animation of the dead bait fish and promotes attraction of the
target fish. Two hooks are linked to extend rearwardly from the
cover by respective, opposing branches of a Y-shaped lead extension
which is secured within the cover. The Y-shaped lead extension
guides alignment of the hooks into positions flanking the opposite
sides of the bait fish. The cover can be articulated and vertically
split, with cover portions which pivot between a separated, open
position in which the head of the bait fish is inserted, and a
closed position in which cover portions are pivoted together to
anchor the fish head within the articulated cover. The cover halves
can be provided with projecting barbs which pierce and anchor the
head of the inserted bait fish. The articulated cover has a hinge
structure at the nose portion to enable the pivotal motion of the
cover halves. A locking structure is provided to secure the cover
halves together in the closed position.
Inventors: |
Ryder; Francis E. (Arab,
AL), Ranalletta; Joseph V. (Guntersville, AL) |
Assignee: |
Ryder International Corporation
(Arab, AL)
|
Family
ID: |
22541758 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/152,165 |
Filed: |
February 4, 1988 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
43/44.2; 43/41;
43/44.6; 43/44.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K
83/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01K
83/00 (20060101); A01K 83/06 (20060101); A01K
083/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;43/41,44.2,44.4,44.6,44.8 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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87471 |
|
Jul 1966 |
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FR |
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155523 |
|
Dec 1920 |
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GB |
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468605 |
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Jul 1937 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Rowan; Kurt
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Giangiorgi; R. A.
Claims
The invention is claimed as follows:
1. A fishing lure for producing swimming animation of a dead bait
fish or the like, comprising; an articulated cover means having a
cavity for insertion therein of the head portion of said fish, and
comprising longitudinally separable and pivotally connected cover
portions which pivot away from each other to an open position is
which said fish is inserted between said cover portions, and pivot
toward each other into engagement with each other in a closed
position in which said fish is anchored within said cover portions;
anchor means for securing said fish between said cover portions;
linkage means for connecting said cover means to a fish hook; and
foil means connected to said cover means for deflecting water to
create lateral motion of said lure and fish in relation to the
direction of trolling advancement of the lure through the
water.
2. A lure according to claim 1 wherein said articulated cover means
is vertically split defining said pivotal cover portions.
3. The lure according to claim 1 wherein said anchor means
comprises barbed means projecting inwardly from at least one of
said cover portions for piercing the head portion of said fish.
4. The lure according to claim 1 wherein said articulated cover
means includes a locking structure securing said cover portions
together in a closed position of said cover means.
5. A fishing lure for producing swimming animation of a dead bait
fish or the like, comprising; an articulated cover means having a
cavity for insertion therein of the head portion of said fish, and
comprising pivotally connected cover portions which pivot between
an open position in which said fish is inserted between said cover
portions, and a closed position in which said fish is anchored
within said cover portions, wherein said pivotal cover portions are
coupled by a hinge structure formed at forward, nose portions
thereof; anchor means for securing said fish between said cover
portions; linkage means for connecting said cover means to a fish
hook; and foil means connected to said cover means for deflecting
water to create lateral motion of said lure and fish.
6. The lure according to claim 5 wherein said hinge structure
includes a vertically extending hinge pin formed on one of said
cover portions and a hinge bearing pivotally supporting said pin
and formed on the other of said cover portions.
7. A fishing lure for producing swimming animation of a dead bait
fish or the like, comprising; an articulated cover means having a
cavity for insertion therein of the head portion of said fish, and
comprising pivotally connected cover portions which pivot between
an open position in which said fish is inserted between said cover
portions, and a closed position in which said fish is anchored
within said cover portions, wherein said articulated cover means
includes a locking structure securing said cover portions together
in a closed position of said cover means and wherein said locking
structure comprises a latch stub projecting from each of said
respective cover portions, said latch stubs being abutted in said
closed position; anchor means for securing said fish between said
cover portions; linkage means for connecting said cover means to a
fish hook; and foil means connected to said cover means for
deflecting water to create lateral motion of said lure and
fish.
8. The lure according to claim 7 wherein said locking structure
further comprises a latch member releasably retaining said abutment
of said latch stubs.
9. The lure according to claim 8 wherein said latch member is
pivotally supported on said cover means.
10. The lure according to claim 9 wherein said pivotally supported
latch member is mounted on a pivotal diving plane defining said
foil means.
11. The lure according to claim 10 wherein said diving plane is
pivotally supported on said cover means and wherein said diving
plane is positioned in said water-deflecting position when said
latch member is located in said stub-retaining position of said
locking structure.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to fishing lures, and more particularly
relates to lures designed for use with dead bait fish.
The handling convenience to fishermen in using frozen natural bait
such as typical cigar minnows of approximately 7 or 8 inches, and
similar bait fish, has a major drawback in that the dead bait fish
is trolled through the water in a lifeless manner often
unattractive to target fish. In the attempt to improve the
attraction to target fish, bright metallic lures having a fish
head-shaped cover have been placed over dead bait fish using a
safety pin to secure the head of the bait fish within a metal
cover. With this lure the fish hook is connected to the metallic
cover and the hook is merely dragged along the side of the bait
fish. The hook is often knocked aside by the striking target fish
which takes the bait without hookup. In contrast, the lure
according to the subject invention not only produces attractive
animation of dead bait fish, but is also conveniently anchored to
the bait fish and stabilizes the hook for effective hookup of
target fish.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The fishing lure in accordance with the subject invention includes
a cover means having a cavity for insertion of the head portion of
a bait fish or the like and an anchoring means for securing the
cover on the bait fish. Also connected to the cover is a foil or
diving plane which deflects water to create lateral motion of the
lure and bait fish in relation to the direction of the trolling
advancement of the lure through the water, so that the lure
produces simulated swimming animation of the dead bait fish and
promotes attraction of the target fish. The lure is provided with
linkage to connect the cover to the fish hook. Preferably, two
hooks are linked to extend rearwardly from the cover by respective,
opposing branches of a Y-shaped lead extension which is secured
within the cover. The Y-shaped lead extension guides alignment of
the hooks into positions flanking the opposite sides of the bait
fish.
In a preferred embodiment, the cover of the lure is articulated and
vertically split, with pivotal cover portions. The cover portions
pivot between a separated, open position in which the head of the
bait fish is inserted, and a closed position in which cover
portions are pivoted together to anchor the fish head within the
articulated cover. The cover halves can be provided with projecting
barbs which pierce and anchor the head of the inserted bait fish.
The articulated cover has a hinge structure at the nose portion to
enable the pivotal motion of the cover halves. A locking structure
is provided to secure the cover halves together in the closed
position. The locking structure includes a latch member which
releasably retains abutment of latch stubs respectively formed on
the pivotal cover members. The latch member projects from the
diving plane which is pivotally supported on the articulated cover
so that the diving plane swings away from or into operating
position below the articulated cover. The diving plane is retained
in the operating position by a snap fit of the latch means which
locks abutment of the latch stubs in the closed position of the
articulated cover.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a lure in
accordance with the invention, illustrating a bait fish secured to
the lure;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the lure and fish shown in FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view, partially in section, of the lure and
fish shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and illustrating the linkages within
the cover portion of the lure which extend to guide a pair of
hooks;
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a second embodiment of a lure in
accordance with the invention;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the lure shown in FIG. 4, and
illustrating open and closed positions of the articulated
cover;
FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the lure shown in FIG. 4, and
illustrating pivotal motion of a diving plane hinged on the nose of
the cover;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 in FIG. 4 and in
the indicated direction; and
FIG. 8 is a partial, exploded view of the lure shown in FIGS. 4-7
and illustrating the hinge structure of the articulated cover and
diving plane .
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an embodiment of the fishing lure of the
subject invention which produces swimming animation of dead bait
fish is generally designated by reference character 10. The fishing
lure 10 includes a hollow cover or cap 12 within which an open
cavity 12a is formed to receive the head portion A of a dead bait
fish, generally designated B, for example a minnow. The cap 12 can
be fabricated from light metal or plastic and includes a pair of
lateral, oppositely aligned through apertures 14. The aligned
apertures 14 are sized and located to facilitate passing a
generally rigid, anchoring pin from one aperture 14 through the eye
sockets or adjacent portion of the skull of the bait fish B to
secure the head portion A within the cap 12 as best illustrated in
FIG. 3.
The illustrated lure 10 includes a lead wire 18 with an eye loop
18a which is interconnected with the eye loop 20a at the base end
of a Y-shaped lead extension generally designated 20. The opposing
branches 20b and 20c of the Y-shaped lead extension are secured
within the cap cavity 12a adjacent the respective, opposing side
walls of the cap 12 so that the inserted fish head A is positioned
between the branches. The branches project rearwardly from the cap
12 and are respectively linked by eyes 22 to a pair of hooks 24.
The branches 20a and 20b guide the hooks 24 into preferred
alignment flanking the opposite sides of the fish B. The hooks 24
can be coupled by a rubber band in the manner shown in FIG. 4, in
order to hold the hooks against the sides of the fish.
The Y-shaped lead extension 20 has a base portion 21 which projects
forwardly through an end aperture 26 in the cap 12, and extends to
an eye link 21a. The pin 16 can have an extension 16a with a
jointed linkage 16b to the lead 18.
The cap 12 has an integrally formed diving plane or bill 28 which
obliquely projects forwardly from the underside of the cap 12. The
bill 28 deflects water and creates lateral motion of the lure 10
and inserted fish B in relation to the direction of trolling
advancement of the lure 10 through the water to create simulated
swimming animation of the dead fish B.
Referring to FIG. 4, a second embodiment of the lure is generally
designated by reference character 100. The lure 100 includes an
articulated cap having vertically split cap halves 102 and 104 as
shown in FIG. 5. As best shown in FIG. 8, the cap halves 102 and
104 are coupled by a hinge structure 106 at the nose portions. The
hinge structure 106 includes a vertically extending hinge pin 108
which is integral with, and preferably molded with, the cap half
104; the hinge pin 108 pivots within the aperture of the hinge
bearing 110 which is integral with the cap half 102.
In the open position of the cap halves shown in FIG. 5, the head
portion A of the bait fish B can be inserted between the open
halves 102 and 104 which are then pivotally closed together to
clamp the fish head therebetween; as shown in FIG. 7 with the fish
absent, each cap half 102 and 104 has an inwardly projecting barb
112 which pierces the skull of the fish, preferably through the
eyes, to anchore the fish within the closed cap. Each of the cap
halves 102, 104 has a latch stub 114 projecting downwardly from the
lower portion of the respective cap halves so that in the closed
position illustrated in FIG. 7 the stubs 114 abut in parallel; a
pivoting latch 116 can then be snapped around both of the stubs 114
to maintain the abutment of the stubs 114 and lock the closed
position of the articulated cap. The locking snap action is
facilitated by the arcuate configuration of the latch 116 which
conforms to curves outer surfaces of the respective stubs 114.
The latch 116 defines the free end of a rearwardly projecting brace
portion 118a formed on a pivotal diving plane or bill 118 which is
preferably fabricated from clear plastic. In the locking position
of the latch 116, the bill 118 produces the trolling animation of
the lure 100 similar to the motion of the bill 28 of the first lure
embodiment 10. The pivotal bill 118 is hinged to the articulated
cap by providing a hinge pin 120 extending horizontally from the
vertical hinge pin 108 as best shown in FIG. 8. The upper portion
of the bill 118 has an apertured bearing 122 which is pivotally
supported on the hinge pin 120 so that pivotal motion of the bill
118 allows locking or unlocking the latch 116 against the stubs 114
to open or close the articulated cap.
As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of rearwardly extending hooks 124 are
respectively linked to lead members 126 which are secured within
the respective cap halves 102 and 104. As best shown in FIG. 5, the
illustrated embodiment of the articulated cap has aligned apertures
128 through each of the respective cap halves 102, 104 through
which the main leader line (not shown) can be passed to tie the
lure 100. Referring to FIG. 4, the hooks 124 can be coupled, for
example with a rubber band 130, to flank the sides of the bait fish
for trolling.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described in detail, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art
that changes and modifications of the present invention, in its
various aspects, may be made without departing from the invention
in its broader aspects, some of which changes and modifications
being matters of routine engineering or design, and others being
apparent only after study. As such, the scope of the invention
should not be limited by the particular embodiment and specific
construction described herein but should be defined by the appended
claims and equivalents thereof. Accordingly, the aim in the
appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as
fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *